Pyrotechnic trail



(No ModeL B. F. LINTN.

PYRoTBc-HNIG TRAIL.

ifi

rwiTNBssns: INVBNTOB ATTORNEY .5'

terrao STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDXVARD F. LN'ION, 0F EAST NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE `UNEX- CELLED FIREWORKS COMPANY, OF NEW YORK.

PYROTECHNIC TRAI L.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 262,442, dated-August 8, 1882.

Application tiled March 28. 188:2. (No model.)

1o all whom yit my concern Bc it known that l, EDWARD F. LINTON, a. citizen ot' the United States, residing at East New York, in the count-y of Kings, and State 5 of New York, have invented new and uselul Improvements in Pyrotechnic Trails, of which the followingr is a specification.

This invention relates to trails for attachment to balloons or other vehicles of aerial elexo vation in pyrotechniedisplays; and itconsists in the construction and arrangement, hereinafter described, ot' a series of pyrotechnic devices within a combustible case, whereby such devices are successively detached or permitx 5 ted to drop awayv from each otherand exploded.

This iuventionisillustwted. .in tho accompanying drawings, in which Figure l represents a longitudinal central sect-ion. Fig. 2 shows one ot' the pyrotechnicdevices detached.

2o Fig. 3 illustrates the'manner ot' attaching the trail to a balloon.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The letter A designates a cusc ol' cylindricai forni and oi' proper length and diameter,

within which are arranged or inclosed aseries ofl'iyrotechnic devices, l. lhc case A is closed at its opposite ends by means ol' plugs A' A2, and it is composed ot' a thin sheet ot paperboard oranyothermalerial which is adapted to 3o render the article highly combustibleorinllammable, and which possesses the required body, while each of the pyrotcchnic devices B' is composed of a shell, c, litted to the interior of the case, combined with heads y', one at each end of the shell, and a. suitable lilling, the whole forming a star, fire-ball, explosive shell, gold-rain, streamer, or other similar article. 'lhe structure or composition ofthe pyrotechnic devices, however, is no part ot my present 4o invention, and may be modilied according to taste or fancy.

`The letter h indicates a series of'layers or strata ot' inlannnahlc powder, which are inclosed in the caso A, together with the pyrotechnic devices i3, in such a manner as to separate the latter from each other and from thc ends of the case; and G indicates a. series ot' matches which are arranged to connect the layers of the powder, one with another, and

the upper terminals of which are in fusible con- 5o tact with the priming-{mints ot' thc pyrotcch nic devices, respectively, tho prnningpoints being at the top ot' such devices. 'lhc suc ccssivc layers F of powder are of different colors, and the powder is introduced at the proper places, ina damp condition, so that. when dry it becomes hard and retains its position without disintegrating. At thc lower or firing end ot' the case A, I prefer to arrange a series ot layers ot' powder having different colors; but 6o a single layer will answer ,the purpose of my invention. Y

The intermediate portions ot thc matches (l are situated between the shells c otA the pyrotechnic ,devices and the case A, as shown in Fig. 1, and their lowcr terminals are lei't free in communication with the appropriato layer of powder.

ln the plug A2, at the lower end ot' the case, is arranged a fuse, o, for igniting the bottom 7o layer of powder, while to the plug A', at the upper end ot' the case., is attached a hook, a, or other suitable contrivance for suspending the apparatus.

ln applying the trail to use it is hung to a balloon or other suitable vehicle or means ot' aerial elevation, and the fuso o is ignited, which, burning,` slowly, allows the balloon to ascend some distance before setting lire to the lower stratum of powder. This powder while 8o burning consumes that part of thc case A contiguous or opposite to it, and when the lire reaches the lowest match the latter is ignited and carries the lire up to the priming-point of the first or lowest pyrotechnic device ll, at S5 the Sametime igniting the next upper layer of powder and causing the consumption or destruction ofthe case at that place, so that said pyrotechnic device not only is exploded, but also detached from the case, the explosion 9o taking -placc after the device has become dotached and as it drops or falls, leaving thc remainder of tho trail intact.A The second match next becomes ignited and carries the lire to the second pyrolcchnic device, and so on to the end ot the series, and hence a. novel and very beautiful ell'cct is produced with perfeet safety to the balloon or its substitute.

I am aware@ pylntecimicsiim@ been mmposed ocombnsible emerges contained in pu,- per ubes, so than sunk charges nrs snccessively expozeii, ami also that iiis not brondi); new to sent up pymecmic Mains by means of baiioens; but; suh are not bmariiy maimed by me. In my inveniion a series gip-stechnic devices are nzmnge in n cslnbnstibie crise and separated from each Dner by intervening charges or layers nf inlnmnmbie snbstanco, which are connected manches, tim uppi' terminals of which are in contactjvi'in ne pri lningpoints0f the pymtecbnin devices whereby the intefvnng charges of ininmnmbi substance nn being lighted serve io consume that part of the ense adjacent i0 them, so ha, the pyrotechnic devices am successiveiy disconnected and exploded.

What claim as new, ami dsir@ t@ somme by Letterslnent, is-W A pyroteciniic trail combining in its struct;- nm the combnsiible case A, tbs pyrotechnc devices E, the case-consuming myers of iin- 1i nmnmbie substance F, interposed betweu the pyrotecimc devices, and the ring-rimtches G, connected with of iniinmnmble substance, subsmntiniiy as and 'for the purpose describedh n cstinmny whreotl have hereunto sei; my hand and seni in the presence of sivo subscribing witnesses.

'ED WARD F. XNTON lL. s@

Witnesses:

@unst A. CUDMAN, .FRANK L. PERSON 25 the latter and with the layers f 

